London Heliport sees growth in traffic and helicopter size

A trend towards medium to large twin-engine executive helicopters has contributed to a 5% increase in movements at the London Heliport.

The London Heliport, London’s only licensed heliport, handled 11,900 total movements (including exempted movements) in 2017.

Linking up with business jet activity accounted for 20% of traffic during the year with operators such as Castle Air, Capital, Atlas, Halo Aviation and Starspeed departing London Biggin Hill, Luton, London Oxford Airport, Farnborough and Stansted Airports.

Larger helicopters such as Leonardo’s AW169 are now in operation at London Heliport.

The London Helicopter sightseeing flight company, based at Battersea and Redhill, and now under the ownership and AOC of A2B Aero, is into its sixth year.

London Heliport is undergoing a major investment to upgrade its communications equipment, including a new transmitter and receivers to meet the new 8.33 mHz spacing regulations for VHF Ground-Air communications.

Early this year a partnership agreement was ratified with the Meteorological Office to upgrade available sensor equipment enabling the London Heliport to disseminate METAR data widely to the aviation community.

The London Heliport is in Battersea, just south of Chelsea Harbour, and is the only CAA approved heliport in the capital with approval to handle 12,000 take-offs and landings per year. It has been in operation since 1959, providing service to the business community and emergency services, such as the Air Ambulance (HEMS) and Police Air Support units.